How sustained is sustained viral response in patients with hepatitis C virus infection?

BACKGROUND Sustained virological response (SVR) is achieved in a high proportion of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection, particularly those with genotype 2 or 3 HCV infection. However, data on long-term durability of virological response in patients who achieve SVR are limited. AIM To evaluate the long-term durability of virological response in patients who have achieved SVR with interferon-based combination therapy. METHODS One hundred patients with chronic HCV infection who had obtained SVR after IFN and ribavirin combination therapy were followed up for up to 8 years with annual HCV RNA testing. RESULTS During a followed up of 6 months to 8 years, 8 of 100 patients with initial SVR developed late relapse of HCV infection. Relapse was more common in patients who had cirrhosis (5/28 [18%] vs. (3/72 [4%] with no cirrhosis; p=0.037). CONCLUSION SVR is durable in most patients, but some patients do have late relapse; long term follow up may be particularly important in a subset of patients with HCV infection who have liver cirrhosis.